Beyond Safari: Deeper Connections to Destinations Across Africa

Learn how the communities of Cape Peninsula in South Africa’s Cape Town are addressing the social and ecological challenges of the region. On your immersive day trip you’ll learn about the impact of climate change and socio-spatial inequalities. You’ll meet with people from a variety of groups and backgrounds who are championing initiatives such as creating artwork from waste materials and empowering young people through sports.

Round off the excursion by elevating some classic Cape Town must-dos with detailed explanations of wildlife and environment. Meet with a marine biologist to learn about African penguins and whales, and discover the farming practices of a WWF Champion wine estate on a wine safari in Constantia.

The semi-nomadic Himba community in the Kaokoveld region of Namibia are among the last nomadic people on Earth. As part of your stay at Wilderness Serra Cafema Camp, which is committed to protecting and investing in the community, you’ll be invited to their village to gain a firsthand insight into their distinct way of life and hear their remarkable stories.

This meeting, translated by your private guide, will open up conversations, accompanied by visual demonstrations of Himba customs. Learn about traditional dress, leatherwork and the cultural significance of intricate hairbraiding rituals, which have been passed down through generations. This helps to sustain and protect their culture, as well as supporting the Himba-owned Marienfluss Conservancy on which the experience is located.

Embark on a walking tour of Nairobi with an organisation owned and run by individuals who, due to various circumstances, spent their childhoods homeless on the streets of Nairobi, and now provide employment and stability to disadvantaged young people. Not only will you be able to immerse yourself in Nairobi’s busy streets with detailed explanations from its residents, you’ll also learn about your guide’s personal journey through powerful story telling.

This thought provoking experience shines a light on the power of humanity, challenges perceptions and empowers young adults to rewrite their stories. Your personal guide will take you on a three-hour walking tour around downtown Nairobi, where locals haggle over fresh produce and unsuspecting alleyways lead to hidden markets. Ending with a local lunch, you’ll see Nairobi from a new perspective and gain a deeper understanding of those who call it home.

In connection with Singita Lodges in South Africa, Tanzania and Rwanda, the Singita Community Culinary School is a world-class programme dedicated to empowering people from local communities with professional culinary skills. The young adults who complete the six month practical and theory based training will gain internationally recognised qualifications and many go on to full-time employment in hospitality.

Join one of their interactive cooking classes for a true flavour of Pan-African cuisine. Guided by your personal chef, you’ll get a choice of traditional South African dishes to make using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. As well as getting to dine on your delicious creation, you’ll also gain an insight into the powerful social impact of the programme as you chat to the students about their progress.

Deep in the Namibian desert region of Damaraland you’ll find the incredibly rare and critically endangered desert-adapted black rhino, of which only a few thousand remain in the wild. In partnership with expert trackers from Save the Rhino Trust, Wilderness Desert Rhino Camp offers you the privileged opportunity to spot these majestic animals in the wild.

Head out in the golden light of the early morning when the rhinos are at their most active, foraging for food or water in the brush before temperatures begin to climb. Either in a vehicle or on foot, your guide will aim to lead you to a thrilling glimpse of the local rhino population, at which point you’ll have ten minutes to observe from a respectful distance. Through a combination of expert-led tracking, anti-poaching protections and ethical wildlife encounters, this conservation-focussed excursion helps to protect black rhinos and the local eco-system.

Each year, tens of thousands of zebras and wildebeest migrate between the Makgadikgadi Pans in the south of Botswana, and the Okavango Delta in the north in search of water in a truly impressive spectacle. This cycling excursion led by Jack’s Camp in Botswana represents a sustainable and environmentally sensitive way to view it.

Head out on a bicycle across the vast Makgadikgadi salt pans while learning from your expert guide about the region’s fragile ecosystems and migration corridors. In addition to having minimal environmental impact, your trip will help support conservation and responsible tourism as a percentage of your stay goes to fund habitat protection and minimisation of human-wildlife conflict.

Although a traditional game drive safari allows you to see a broad range of Africa’s spectacular wildlife, there are some animals it just doesn’t cover, such as chimpanzees. Threatened by deforestation and poaching to the point of endangerment, trekking to spot these highly sociable animals is a breathtaking yet fragile experience.

At Greystoke Mahale, you’ll form a close bond with your guides throughout your stay, navigating the dense forest on foot in a truly immersive experience. The expert trackers will guide you along the trails, identifying nesting and feeding sites on your way to spot the primates among the trees. In addition to observing the chimpanzees’ human-like characteristics, you’ll learn about how income from your trek is used to fund local schools, healthcare and the TANAPA chimpanzee habituation programme.

The misty forests of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda make the perfect atmospheric setting for one of Africa’s most soul-stirring and profound wildlife experiences. In small groups with strict permit regulations, you’ll trek through the foliage with a private guide for the chance to spot a mountain gorilla family. Watch the young ones at play, observe the motherly bond between parents and children, or gaze in awe at the imposing presence of a silverback.

This careful observation in the gorillas’ natural habitat contributes to the protection of this deeply endangered species by funding anti-poaching patrols and habitat protection and expansion. Wilderness Bisate Lodge trains local guides who benefit from the protection of their environmental heritage while sharing the magnificent gorillas with visitors.